“ ‘My son, Achilles is the nobler born, But thou art elder. He surpasses thee By far in warlike might, but thou must prompt His mind with prudent counsels; thou must warn And guide him; he will hearken to thy words Meant for his good.’ The old man charged thee thus. Thou hast forgotten it. Yet speak thou now To Peleus’ warlike son; and haply he May heed thy counsels. Thou perchance mayst bend His will⁠—who knows?⁠—by thy persuasive words For wholesome are the warnings of a friend. Yet, if he shrink from some predicted doom, Or if his goddess-mother have revealed Aught of Jove’s counsels to him, then, at least Let him send thee to war, and let his troop Of Myrmidons go with thee, so that thou Mayst carry succor to the Greeks. Yet more⁠— Let him permit thee in the field to wear His glorious armor, that the Trojan host, Beholding thee so like to him, may shun The combat, and the warlike sons of Greece, Hard-pressed, may breathe again, and find at length A respite from the conflict. Ye, who still Are fresh and vigorous, shall assault and drive Townward the weary foe from camp and fleet.”